National Stalking Awareness Month

Floor Speech

NATIONAL STALKING AWARENESS MONTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - February 04, 2009)

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today we will vote on an important piece of legislation that discusses a problem that persists in communities across our country. This bill will show that this problem will not go away with wishful thinking and good intentions. Something must be done to prevent stalking now. We can not afford to wait. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution, do their part to make America aware of stalking, and do their utmost to prevent it's occurrence.

Every day, millions of woman and men have their lives disrupted by a stalker. While every state and DC has passed laws that make this act illegal, stalking still happens far too often. We must do everything we can to tell those being stalked that they are not alone and we will help them. We must do everything we can to tell those terrorizing their fellow man or woman with stalking that you will be caught and prosecuted.

Madam Speaker, stalking has multiple ways it can impact it's victims. Stalkers do not just harass and annoy their targets, they also cause real financial and psychological harm. 26% of stalking victims have lost time working because of their stalkers while a full 7% have been so frightened, they have not returned to work at all. Almost 30% have sought counseling because of the stalking. Overall, the prevalence of insomnia, anxiety, social dysfunction and severe depression is much higher among stalking victims.

These victims feel helpless and will do anything to control their lives again. The number of victims who drastically change their lives to get away from these individuals is staggering. Through no fault of their own, the victims often reach out to law enforcement early requesting restraining orders to prevent contact with their tormenters. These attempts rarely work and result in about 3 out of every 4 restraining orders being violated. Victims have gone so far as to move from their homes to prevent the stalker from being able to antagonize them. One in seven victims has moved in order to maintain their ability to live their life or as normally as possible.

In one out of five cases, the stalker will approach his target with a weapon to threaten or harm them. The worst is that in cases where a woman is murdered by an ex-intimate partner, nearly 90% of them were stalked prior to the homicide. This can not be allowed to go on any more. We have the means and the ability to prevent these attacks.

While technology has aided law enforcement in the ability to target stalkers it has also been used by the stalker to target and contact victims. One in four victims have reported being stalked online. Every day women are stalked and not enough of them are reporting it. Less than half report it to law enforcement officers and only 7% contact victims groups. As the famous author Michele Archer said, ``It is important that people know that stalking is a crime and that they can do something about it.'' This advice can help save a lot of lives.

The biggest misconception about stalking is that it only happens to women. While women are the majority of the targets, they are by no means the only gender that is stalked. Men and women are both targeted and attacked. This legislation will help bring attention to this problem that's underreported, undereducated on and overlooked far too often.

All of us, as members of Congress, want to help, and so often we disagree on how to accomplish that laudable goal. For once we can agree on a problem and can help provide a solution. Today we have that chance to make an impact upon the people who live in daily fear. We can say to them today they are not alone, we are on their side and we will do anything we can to fight for them. We can also say that stalker's days are numbered.

Madam Speaker, I urge that my colleagues to support this resolution.

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